WASHINGTON (August 9, 2011) –President Sidney A. Ribeau will host a naming ceremony for the John and Eula Cleveland Chair in Afro-American Studies on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in Howard Hall on the University’s main campus. The John and Eula Cleveland Chair in Black History Studies was established in March 2010 with a $1.2 million gift from the couple’s estate. The gift will support Afro-American Studies programs and continue Howard’s tradition of educating students in the dynamics of the African-American experience. As Washingtonians, John and Eula Cleveland possessed a deep respect and admiration for the city, and were pioneers in the fight for better standards of living for black workers in the nation’s capital and across the country.

Together, the Clevelands helped create the Teamsters National Black Caucus and were active in civil rights and social justice issues. John Cleveland was also the first African-American international vice president of the Teamsters Union and was inducted into the Labor’s International Hall of Fame on May 20, 2010. For more information, please contact the Office of University communications at 202-238-2330.